Kickstarted Space Opera Arrives In Paperback

The Long Way to a Small, Angry Planet Showcases New Talent

Sci-fi author Becky Chambers was most of the way through a draft of The Long Way to a Small, Angry Planet when her freelance work dried up. And where many people, in a similar situation, would back-burner the writing to focus on work, Chambers tried something different. She turned to Kickstarter to help find the necessary funding to finish and self-publish the novel. And, using the $2,810 she was able to raise, she did just that.

And now, Harper Voyager, the sci-fi / fantasy arm of publishing giant Harper Collins, has just published the novel in paperback. Not bad for a debut science fiction novel.

Here’s a brief synopsis for the book:

“Rosemary Harper doesn’t expect much when she joins the crew of the aging Wayfarer. While the patched-up ship has seen better days, it offers her a bed, a chance to explore the far-off corners of the galaxy, and most importantly, some distance from her past.

Life aboard the Wayfarer is chaotic and crazy—exactly what Rosemary wants. It’s also about to get extremely dangerous when the crew is offered the job of a lifetime. Tunneling wormholes through space to a distant planet is definitely lucrative and will keep them comfortable for years. But risking her life wasn’t part of the plan. In the far reaches of deep space, the tiny Wayfarer crew will confront a host of unexpected mishaps and thrilling adventures that force them to depend on each other.”

Praise for The Long Way to a Small, Angry Planet

And, Chambers has picked up some pretty glowing reviews along the way. Sci-Fi / Fantasy Publisher Tor called the book “a joyous, optimistic space opera…Although it isn’t shy about tackling Big Questions, Planet is a heart-warming debut novel that will restore your faith in science fiction (specifically) and humanity (in general).” And the Guardian said it was “A quietly profound, humane tour de force that tackles politics and gender issues with refreshing optimism.”

Even better, according to her website, Chambers is working on a stand-alone sequel, A Close and Common Orbit. So if you’re in need of a new sci-fi book, might we suggest heading over to Amazon and grabbing a copy of The Long Way to a Small, Angry Planet? And if you’ve had a chance to read it, let us know what you think in the comments!

22 years old, MIlan Cukic is a student of the English language and literature. He is a fan of creative writing, a comic book enthusiast, and considers himself to be a Ultra Star Wars/Elder Scrolls nerd.